Promoting and celebrating equality at Essex

The Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies is applying for an Athena SWAN Bronze Departmental Award.

What is the Athena SWAN Charter?

The Athena SWAN Charter was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research.

In May 2015, the charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL), and in professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students.

The charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women. You can read more about Athena SWAN and its guiding principles here.

“Gender equality is an important aspect of our community’s commitment to challenging inequality, celebrating diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all staff and students. In applying for a bronze Athena Swan award, we are taking the opportunity to evolve processes of self-reflection dialogue and critique that not only ensure that our practices are in line with our policies, but that we deepen our collective understanding of who we are, and where we want to be as a department.”